FLORIDA (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — Tech billionaire Elon Musk is weighing in on Florida’s 2026 Governor’s race, publicly backing U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and adding yet another national name to Donalds’ growing list of high-profile supporters.
Musk posted his support in response to an earlier X post from Donalds highlighting his candidacy. In the reply, Musk wrote, “Congratulations, Byron! You certainly have my full support.” Donalds responded, “Thank you @elonmusk! I am honored to have your full support.”
Congratulations, Byron!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 13, 2025
You certainly have my full support.
The endorsement aligns Musk with President Donald Trump, who has already endorsed Donalds for Governor, as well as a roster of prominent national conservatives, members of U.S. House leadership, and a large share of Florida’s Republican elected officials. The Donalds campaign says recent backers also include U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and other conservative figures, along with numerous members of Florida’s congressional delegation, county sheriffs, and most of the Republican caucus in the Florida House.
“I’m truly honored to have Elon’s support,” Donalds said in a statement released by his campaign. He framed the endorsement as a reflection of “momentum” behind his platform to “make the American Dream more achievable in Florida by lowering costs for families, cutting taxes, unleashing innovation, and putting the future back in the hands of the American people, not government bureaucracy.”
“Together, we will deliver bold, America First leadership for Florida and ensure our state continues to lead the nation in freedom, economic growth, and opportunity for every family,” Donalds added.
The Musk endorsement comes on the heels of what the campaign has described as a strong third-quarter fundraising period and a string of favorable polls in both the Republican primary and hypothetical general election matchups. Separate public polling has consistently shown Donalds as a top contender in the GOP field, which has begun to take shape as Gov. Ron DeSantis nears the end of his second and final term.
One recent survey by The American Promise, a Tallahassee-based public research nonprofit, polled 800 likely Republican primary voters on Sept. 4–5. On an initial, hypothetical ballot that included Donalds, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former House Speaker Paul Renner, Donalds drew 40% support, while Collins and Renner each stood at 2%.
After respondents were given more information about the candidates — including Trump’s endorsement of Donalds — his support rose to 57% on what pollsters described as an “informed ballot,” suggesting room for his numbers to grow as more primary voters tune in.
The same polling suggested Donalds’ name recognition and overall image among Republican voters have improved over the course of the year, with more voters saying they know enough about him to make a choice and a larger share viewing him favorably. Those trends, combined with his current lead, have led GOP strategist Ryan Tyson and others to argue that Donalds now enters the race as a clear early favorite, particularly given Florida’s size and the cost of mounting a serious statewide campaign.
“For Donalds to do this without a statewide media buy is a resounding accomplishment,” Tyson said, noting that rivals like Collins and Renner start with far lower name recognition and fewer resources. Tyson said internal data shows Donalds performing especially well in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale and Southwest Florida media markets, important regions in a statewide Republican primary.
Economic concerns are also front and center for GOP primary voters. The American Promise poll found roughly six in 10 respondents citing cost-of-living and government spending issues as their top considerations in the Governor’s race, including priorities like lowering homeowners’ insurance, cutting taxes, and reining in state spending.
Another 20% of those surveyed listed fighting illegal immigration as their top issue, underscoring the mix of fiscal and border-security themes now dominating Republican messaging in Florida.
The poll did not test First Lady Casey DeSantis, who has not announced a bid but has been mentioned in earlier surveys as a potential contender.
For now, the declared GOP primary field includes Donalds, Renner and several lesser-known candidates. With Musk’s endorsement now in hand and Trump already on board, Donalds’ camp is pointing to the latest polling, fundraising numbers and national attention as evidence that he is consolidating support early in the 2026 race for Florida Governor.
